314: Tom Triplett’s 1949 Willys Truck
1949 Willys 4×4 Pickup. All original with 34 thousand miles. Original 6 volt electrical system, engine, and running gear. No add-ons- radio, or turn signals etc. I have the original Bill-of-Sale, Manual and the original two keys. Just one small patch of rust was found behind the spare tire. I bought this Pickup from a Gentleman in Iowa about ten years ago. Recently finished the Frame-off Restoration. What a Awesome Truck. Thanks to all those who helped with the restoration!
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – Tom Triplett
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Great job on the truck. Is this the same Tom Triplett that I knew in Chester SC? I have been a Jeep fan since I had a ’57 2wd wagon in 1960. I really liked that Jeep, but was too young to really appreciate it. I drove it at highway speeds on the highway, and burned a valve. (I didn’t have overdrive) I ended up trading it for a 1958 VW Karmann-Ghia coupe, That gave good, economical service, but didn’t have the HP to climb Pike’s Peak. (I was stationed at Fort Carson then.) That went in trade for an XK-140 C-Type Jag, etc., etc. But I’m now back into Jeeps, and have a nearly-restored M38A1. I just bought an M-100 trailer for it, and the setup will be next December’s Christmas parades. Keep up the good work on the website; I check it daily!
1948 Willys very different from its original condition in the 1960’s as a child. Older brother got a hold of it and made it into a hunting vehicle. Mag wheels, big tires. I replaced the small block Chevy 283 which was trashed with a crate engine. Small block Chevy 350. I live on the Central Coast of California in close proximity to the Oceano Dunes. Good times hitting the dunes!
If you want to see some pictures reply with email.
I drove a gray ’60 Willys Wagon on a northern AZ construction job that was GSA government vehicle. Gray was a standard GSA color although some agencies had different colors when they owned them instead of getting vehicles out of the motor pool.
A Willys Jeepster manual, especially the parts manual, will help a lot on trucks as many parts are interchangeable. It includes a lot of diagrams and has helped me on my ’61 Wagon and ’49 Jeepster.
Great pictures, I am restoring my 1948 truck and need pics or diagram of the wiper vacuume lines routing along with the switch. I bought my truck with a lot of missing parts and the repair manuals aren’t much help, they lack a lot of info.
Thanks! Keith
Great Job.
I am restoring a twin to yours, 54000 miles, ground up and all original including 6 volt. I bought it in 1972 for $100. Three years into the project, I have completed the frame and chassis, cab, doors, fenders, grill and hood are painted (same original color as yours) and back on the frame.
Your pictures gave me inspiration to resume my project. Thanks. Maybe some day we can have a picture of both of them side by side for the calendar.
Shoener arbeit!Very well done job!
Nice. I have a 48, all original, Same colors!
Thanks for the pictures, they will be helpful. I have a 19494WD also that I swapped a refrigerator for 30 years ago. It’s been sitting in a shed just waiting to be my next project. The original running gear and such is still there, but someone in the past had put a 1956 Studebaker V8 in it. The seat was the back seat out of some car. And the tailgate is missing along with most of the interior. (I’ve been looking for a tailgate for years, but the WD emblem gate is rather hard to find. I had one in my hands once, but I thought surely I can find one in better shape. Well, I haven’t. (that’s the way things go)
It’s very helpful to see how things are supposed to look, as so much is hosed on this truck. I’m just finishing up my ’56 CJ5, so maybe the truck will finally make it to my next project, now that I’m retired and the kids are gone and have some time (finally!)
As a side note, my truck was the same color as yours, but from the stencils and such I discovered under several layers of paint (some put on with a paint brush), it was originally a Federal Government truck, I think the Agriculture department.
Anyway, you’ve got a very nice looking truck, and I hope mine will look as nice in a few years.
Steve
Great job on the restoration. I’ve got a 51 cj3a that came with same paint color combination of your truck. Thanks for keeping it all original
Wow what a great looking truck! I have a 49 as well that im doing a frame up resto on. It has remnants of the same color grey that yours is under the orange paint job from a previous owner. Im going back with the original grey on mine. Its nice to see a 49 with the same color all redone. Great job and beautiful truck!
Tom, terrific restoration job and congrats for leaving it original. We’ve seen so many cases where apparently well intended people destroy a legend to create a monster with huge tires and a V8 and all that stuff. Our CJ-2A is absolutely original as well. I’m a septuagenarian and remember your type vehicle quite well.
Thanks for sharing the pictures and best of luck.
The Stokes family of Idaho Falls, Idaho